Armenia: Amulsar project might not be harmful

The Investigative Committee of Armenia says Lydian Armenia’s planned mitigation measures during the potential operation of the Amulsar Project are assessed as reasonable and appropriate by experts of ELARD, the company, which conducted an environmental impact assessment of the project, Yura Ivanyan, top detective in the Amulsar case and Head of the Corruption, Property Crime and Cybercrime Division of the General Department of Investigations at the Investigative Committee, announced.

A journalist quoted a part from the ELARD conclusion whereby the assessments were flawed, conclusions were unreliable and therefore it was impossible to answer whether or not the Amulsar Project’s operation could be considered to be safe.

Ivanyan responded by saying that the mitigation system, which would prevent existing risks, was to be focused on.

“The mitigation measures, which Lydian Armenia has planned, have been assessed by experts as reasonable and adequate. At the same time additional measures have been brought forward, and experts state that if this entire system is implemented properly then the environmental risks will be manageable. If environmental risks are manageable, it means that there is no harm,” he said.

Earlier Ivanyan said that there were no grounds to continue the criminal investigation into the Amulsar project. The announcement was made after ELARD published its EIA report.

On August 19 Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that the government intended to allow Lydian International to continue the Amulsar project. The decision was based on the conclusion of an environmental audit conducted by ELARD. Pashinyan emphasized that the project would be operated strictly in adherence to high environmental standards.

But on August 21 the PM requested the Ministry of Environment to study the conclusion and determine whether or not another Environmental Impact Assessment was required before a final decision is made.

The Amulsar Project is a gold mining project by Lydian Armenia, the Armenian subsidiary of Lydian International. (Armenpress/Ukrainian metal)